Asking int’l consultant to do Fort study: Min

RAIGAD FORT

Jalgaon’s BJP MP A T Nana Patil on Monday made a high-pitch case in the Lok Sabha for starting a “durg paryatan” (fort tourism) by restoring many forts (gadh, durg & kilas) by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, however, wriggled out in response to his supplementary during the question hour, saying his ministry can consider a project only on recommendations from the state government.

He said he had visited the Raigad Fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji, which is a huge impressive fort. “We are asking an international consultant to do a study of the Fort to see what we can do,” he said, adding that nine projects received from the Maharashtra Government are under consideration.

Though the minister said no funds were sanctioned to Maharashtra for fairs and festivals from 2015 to 2019 as no proposal was received from the state, he said in reply to Nana Patil’s supplementary that the Centre had given Rs 50 lakh to Maharashtra for fairs and festivals — Rs 25 lakh each for the Kalidas Festival and Elephanta Festival.

He said the Centre has approved two Maharashtra projects worth Rs 136 crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, including a coastal circuit that was delayed due to the problems with the coastal regulation act.

The second one is spiritual circuit with an outlay of Rs 54.01 crore approved only in 2017-18 for the development of Waki, Adasa, Dhapewada, Paradsingha, Chota Taj Baj, Telankhandi and Girad.

The minister said the tourism ministry has just approved a Rs 37.81-crore scheme for development of Triambakeshwar. Besides, three projects have been funded under the central assistance to the states. These include Khanoji Angre Lightout (Rs 15 cr), modernisation of port at Mumbai to receive larger cruise vessels for which Rs 12.5 crore have been disbursed.

The minister said the tourism ministry has just approved a Rs 37.81crore scheme for development of Trimbakeshwar. Besides, three projects have been funded under the central assistance to the states. These include Khanoji Angre Lighthouse